This anti-aging serum is formulated around Niacinamide and Retinal to soften the look of wrinkles and refine skin texture.
What's inside
What's inside
Key Ingredients
Benefits
Concerns
Ingredients Side-by-side
Water
Skin ConditioningNiacinamide
Smoothing
Glycerin
Humectant
Pentylene Glycol
Skin Conditioning
Silybum Marianum Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil
Emollient
Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate
HumectantSodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Ursolic Acid
MaskingRetinal 0.05%
Skin Conditioning
Glutathione
Bakuchiol
Antimicrobial
Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38
Skin Conditioning
Phospholipids
Skin Conditioning
Superoxide Dismutase
Antioxidant
Nigella Sativa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil
Emollient
Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil
Skin Conditioning
Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract
Skin Conditioning
Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract
Skin ConditioningAvena Sativa Kernel Oil
Skin Conditioning
Zingiber Officinale Root Extract
Masking
Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil
Emollient
Bisabolol
Antioxidant
Lactobacillus Ferment
Skin Conditioning
Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract
AntimicrobialLonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract
Perfuming
Honokiol
Antioxidant
Magnolol
Antioxidant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Dimethyl Isosorbide
SolventCyclodextrin
AbsorbentArachidyl Alcohol
Emollient
Glyceryl Caprylate
EmollientBehenyl Alcohol
Emollient
Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTocopheryl Acetate
Antioxidant
Butylene Glycol
Humectant
Arachidyl Glucoside
EmulsifyingPolyglyceryl-6 Laurate
Emulsifying
Caprylhydroxamic Acid
ChelatingPolyglyceryl-10 Oleate
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingSorbitan Palmitate
Emulsifying
Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin
MaskingGlucose
Humectant
Citric Acid
Buffering
Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract
Skin ConditioningPotassium Sorbate
Preservative
Sodium Benzoate
Masking
Water, Niacinamide, Glycerin, Pentylene Glycol, Silybum Marianum Seed Oil, Cucumis Sativus Seed Oil, Hydrogenated Starch Hydrolysate, Sodium Hyaluronate, Ursolic Acid, Retinal 0.05%, Glutathione, Bakuchiol, Palmitoyl Tripeptide-38, Phospholipids, Superoxide Dismutase, Nigella Sativa Seed Oil, Rosa Rubiginosa Seed Oil, Rubus Chamaemorus Seed Oil, Daucus Carota Sativa Root Extract, Ocimum Sanctum Leaf Extract, Avena Sativa Kernel Oil, Zingiber Officinale Root Extract, Helianthus Annuus Seed Oil, Bisabolol, Lactobacillus Ferment, Rosmarinus Officinalis Leaf Extract, Lonicera Caprifolium Flower Extract, Honokiol, Magnolol, Tocopherol, Dimethyl Isosorbide, Cyclodextrin, Arachidyl Alcohol, Glyceryl Caprylate, Behenyl Alcohol, Acrylates/C10-30 Alkyl Acrylate Crosspolymer, Tocopheryl Acetate, Butylene Glycol, Arachidyl Glucoside, Polyglyceryl-6 Laurate, Caprylhydroxamic Acid, Polyglyceryl-10 Oleate, Sodium Hydroxide, Sorbitan Palmitate, Hydroxypropyl Cyclodextrin, Glucose, Citric Acid, Lonicera Japonica Flower Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Benzoate
Water
Skin ConditioningGlycerin
Humectant
Propanediol
Solvent
Cetyl Ethylhexanoate
EmollientC13-15 Alkane
SolventCetyl Alcohol
Emollient
Butyrospermum Parkii Butter
Skin Conditioning
Cetearyl Olivate
Coconut Alkanes
Emollient
Sorbitan Olivate
Emulsifying
Potassium Cetyl Phosphate
EmulsifyingBetaine
Humectant
Retinyl Sunflowerseedate
Skin Conditioning
Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract
MaskingOphiopogon Japonicus Root Extract
Skin ConditioningCamellia Oleifera Leaf Extract
AstringentAloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice
Skin Conditioning
Sodium Hyaluronate
Humectant
Tocopherol
Antioxidant
Coco-Caprylate/Caprate
Emollient
Ethylhexylglycerin
Skin ConditioningGlycol Stearate
Emollient
Glyceryl Stearate
Emollient
Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride
Masking
Maltodextrin
Absorbent
Xanthan Gum
EmulsifyingBenzoic Acid
Masking
Sodium Hydroxide
BufferingCarbomer
Emulsion StabilisingSodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer
Emulsion StabilisingTrisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
ChelatingWater, Glycerin, Propanediol, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, C13-15 Alkane, Cetyl Alcohol, Butyrospermum Parkii Butter, Cetearyl Olivate, Coconut Alkanes, Sorbitan Olivate, Potassium Cetyl Phosphate, Betaine, Retinyl Sunflowerseedate, Stevia Rebaudiana Leaf/Stem Extract, Ophiopogon Japonicus Root Extract, Camellia Oleifera Leaf Extract, Aloe Barbadensis Leaf Juice, Sodium Hyaluronate, Tocopherol, Coco-Caprylate/Caprate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Glycol Stearate, Glyceryl Stearate, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Maltodextrin, Xanthan Gum, Benzoic Acid, Sodium Hydroxide, Carbomer, Sodium Acrylate/Sodium Acryloyldimethyl Taurate Copolymer, Trisodium Ethylenediamine Disuccinate
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Ingredients Explained
These ingredients are found in both products.
Ingredients higher up in an ingredient list are typically present in a larger amount.
Glycerin (or glycerol) is a compound naturally found in your skin. It's a powerhouse humectant that pulls water into the stratum corneum.
Topically, glycerin does several things at once:
Your skin makes glycerin on its own (mostly from sebaceous oil breakdown) and shuttles it to your outermost layer of skin, or your epidermis, via aquaporin-3.
Aquaporin-3 is a transporter that is essential for normal skin hydration, elasticity, and repair. Interestingly, mice lacking in AQP3 have dry and less elastic skin that can be fully corrected with glycerin.
This ingredient is non-irritating, plays well with almost every ingredient, and works across all skin types. Typical use is anywhere between 3-10% but can go up to 79% in some leave-on products.
Just know very high concentrations (>40%) can feel tacky in low humidity.
Glycerin is the name for this ingredient in American English. British English uses Glycerol/Glycerine.
Learn more about GlycerinSodium Hyaluronate is the salt form of hyaluronic acid. It is a long sugar chain that is naturally found in your skin, joints, and connective tissue that maintains hydration and elasticity.
In skincare, it works as a humectant. It pulls water from the environment and deeper layers of skin and binds it to the surface.
Interestingly, the size of the molecule affects its behavior:
Some clinical evidence links low molecular weight versions to improved wrinkle depth, elasticity, anti-inflammatory effects, and barrier repair.
Many serums use a blend of both weights so you can get surface hydration plus longer-lasting and deeper effects.
You'll typically see concentrations between 0.1-2% for this ingredient.
Learn more about Sodium HyaluronateSodium Hydroxide is also known as lye or caustic soda. It is used to adjust the pH of products; many ingredients require a specific pH to be effective.
In small amounts, sodium hydroxide is considered safe to use. However, large amounts may cause chemical burns due to its high alkaline.
Your skin has a natural pH and acid mantle. This acid mantle helps prevent harmful bacteria from breaking through. The acid mantle also helps keep your skin hydrated.
"Alkaline" refers to a high pH level. A low pH level would be considered acidic.
Learn more about Sodium HydroxideTocopherol is a fat-soluble antioxidant known as Vitamin E.
You'll find this ingredient in the vast majority of skincare (for good reason). It works to neutralize free radicals, or unstable molecules generated by UV exposure, pollution, and other environmental stressors, before they can cause oxidative damage to your skin cells.
Topically applied tocopherol has been shown to protect against UV damage by ramping up the skin's own natural defense enzymes.
It also acts as a skin conditioning agent; some studies show that regular topical use can improve the skin's water-binding capacity over 2-4 weeks.
This ingredient is especially loved for being a team player. When combined with Vitamin C, the photoprotective effect of both ingredients roughly doubles and the combo also helps reduce UV-induced DNA damage.
This ingredient has some brightening potential but it's more of a prevention ingredient than spot-fader. Cell studies show it can slow down melanin production but it's worth noting that it's not the most powerful brightener out there.
In formulations, it also serves as a stabilizer that helps protect other oxidation-prone ingredients from degrading.
Concentrations usually range from 0.1-1% in most leave-on products.
Learn more about TocopherolWater. It's the most common cosmetic ingredient of all. You'll usually see it at the top of ingredient lists, meaning that it makes up the largest part of the product.
So why is it so popular? Water most often acts as a solvent - this means that it helps dissolve other ingredients into the formulation.
You'll also recognize water as that liquid we all need to stay alive. If you see this, drink a glass of water. Remember to stay hydrated!
Learn more about Water
